The Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF), the state agency that administers the Kansas Low Income (Home) Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP or LIHEAP), announced they will open a new application window for those seeking assistance with energy bills. Applications may be submitted from May 1-29, 2020.

The nationwide infusion of an additional $900 million in federal LIEAP dollars from the Cares Act due to COVID19 enabled DCF to open this second-chance application period.

“We urge anyone who may have missed the original application deadline or who may be having financial difficulty because of the COVID-19 pandemic to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Jerri Whitley, vice president of communications at Victory Electric.

LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay energy bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults, and families with children are the primary groups assisted. In 2019, about 33,000 households received an average benefit of $576.

To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their energy bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130% of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates. Eligibility is based on an applicant’s energy and heating bill. If an applicant has gas heating and needs assistance covering electric costs, they need to request the benefit be split between the two utilities. Applicants need to have made payments on their energy/heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less.

The extended online application period for LIEAP is available from Friday, May 1, at 8 a.m. through Friday, May 29, at 5 p.m. Applicants can only be granted one approval for the 2020 LIEAP season. Do not reapply if you have received a benefit since December 15, 2019. If you currently have an application pending for LIEAP, please do not reapply until you receive a notice letting you know the status of that application. You must be either a new applicant or have been denied after December 16, 2019, in order to reapply during this period.

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